Game



" 27, 1940. c. F. KUEHNE 2,212,833

GAME

Filed July 26, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 27, 1940 jii s i UNITED STATES PATENr, orr cER Charles F. Kuehne, Jersey City, N. J; Application July 26, 1938, Serial o. 221,278} I 11 Claims.

This invention relates to games and specifically to a game board.

. In general, it is an object of the invention to ,provide a device of the character described, which will efiiciently perform the purposes for which it is intended, which is simple and economical of construction, whichcan be expeditiously and conveniently manipulated, and

- .which can be readily manufactured and aspredetermined type or another, the result being indicated as different for different opponents or players and which may or may not have a chance-controlled element, attached to the board, for selecting which one in the set is to be considered to have occurred; which may simulate a game normally not played on a board; which may have an element simulating a real element in the real game and determining by its position the status above referred to; and which for any period of the game indicates a particular set of possible results for the same type of play, which set depends upon the status in the game of the player making the play but the same set for any player at any time having that particular status.

Other objects of the invention will in part connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 is a plan View, with portions broken away, of a device embodying one formof the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the device shown in Fig. 1 and taken along the line 22.

In the drawing, H0 denotes a frame which carries a game board I I2 of any suitable material. Indicia on the board may convey the idea of any game and its progress. The game may be new or old. It may simulate a-game normally not played on a board, e. g., as is shown in Fig. 1, 'a football field.

Means are provided showing different types advanced. In the example in the drawing, there are twelvepossible results visible at any onetime for each type of play.

As shown, there are seven types ofplay eachassigned to an opening H4 in theboard through which are visible various possible results for each type. The openings are respectivelylabeled Kick offs and punts, Return of kick off, punts, interceptions, fumbles, attempted field goals, Line-end and lateral plays, Forward passes, Try for field goal, Try for point after touch-- down and Penalty. Adjacent each opening there is a series of numbers fixedly positioned on the board and beginning with the numeral one. There are as many numbers as thereare possible results visible at any one time through the adjacent opening. twelve such possible results. There isasimilar series with each opening but, for purposes/of clarity, not all of the series are shown on the drawing. Preferably there are openings labeled,

as above for one player or opponent and other As shown, there are similar openings for each additional player or opponent.

Means are provided for moving one set of possible results into registry with the said numerals but beneath the opening and for replacingthat- 7 set with another set. There may be a plurality; These sets may be brought, by; means to be described, successively into view..-

of such sets.

Any group of possible results which happens to,

be visible may be considered a set. Thus, any one result may lie within the boundaries of different sets as they are successively moved into view. Shafts H6 are supported by the frame H0 and extend beneath and parallel to" the board 1 l2. They are rotatable by knobs IIB' on the ends of the shafts and outside of the' frame III]. A sheet I 20 is wound on the shafts and extends parallel to and beneath the board The various possible results are written down, on the sheet I20 in such position that they are successively visible through the openings H4 and so that one result is in registry Y. with each of the numerals which are fixed on the board H2.

They are spaced at the same 1 distance as the said numerals are spaced. These by parallel lines I22 between each two of which results through the opening entitled Line-end a single is placed. These lines assist in registering the results with the numerals.

There may be an element associated with the game and shown on the board such as the football I24 which, by its position, shows the progress of the game or the relative status of the opponents. Means may .be provided for causing a particular set of possible results to be shown respectively for each type of play, depending upon the position of the element I24. Thus, that element may be connected, through an opening I26 in the board, to the sheet I20. The opening I26 in the game shown extends centrally the length of the field. When element I24 is near the center of the field, as at the beginning of play, a set of twelve possible results, which are shown through the opening labeled Kick offs and punts, may read, for example: touchback, 22 yards, 35 yards, 50 yards, touchback, 33 yards, 43 yards, 41 yards, 29 yards, 36 yards, 54 yards, and 39 yards. Each of these twelve possible results is accurately aligned with one ofthe numerals from 1 to 12 mentioned above.

Any desirable means may be used for determining which of thetwelve possible results is to be the one considered to occur in the game. Chance means may be used. These may take the form of dice or thespinning arrow I 28 attached to the board, the tip of which arrow passes over a circle having the numerals 1 to 12 placed thereon.

To begin the game, the football lit is placed on the forty-yard line of the player who is to kick off, who then spins the arrow I23. The tip of the arrow will come to rest on some numeral, say 4.

Next, it is observed what result is shown through the opening entitled Kick ofis and punts and associated with the numeral 4. Using the above set set of possible results for the kick-off, it is seen that the team A kicking off accomplished say 10. He then looks through the opening assigned toteam B and entitled Return of kick offs, etc. and notes that the possible result asso- .ciated with the numeral 10 shows that team B returns the kick-off by team A nine yards to team Bs 19-yard line. The ball I24 is moved to-the 19-yard line of team B and the player representing that team again spins the arrow which comes to rest at say 6. whereupon the player representing team B refers to the set of possible and lateral plays, assuming that that is the type of play which player B chooses to make. He is free to: choose any type of play he wishes, announcing his selection before he plays. The play of the game is continued in accordance with the usual rules of football to the conclusion of the game. The length of the game may be limited to a certain period of time or to a certain number of plays. All possible results of any type of play are: found somewhere on sheet I28 so that each appears through some one or more of the openings 4- for at least one position of the ball I24. Thus, in the opening H4 entitled Try for field goal, one of the results is Blocked. Another is -Fumble. Still another is Good, which means that the goal was accomplished. In the opening I I2 marked Forward passes, one of the results may befIntercepted and another Goal. One of the results for any type of play is Penalty. When that is shown in registry with the number indicated by the spinner, reference is then made to the opening entitled Penalty" and the appropriate penalty there read oil" under the corresponding number.

Means may be provided for showing the number of downs, such as the indicia I30. There may also be indicia I32 on the board, shown without index, for indicating the total score of each team. Also, there maybe indicia I34 on the board for indlcatingthe quarter of the game being played.

At any one time there are results shown through the variousopenings II4 for each team. While one team is attempting to advance the ball, only those results are used which are shown through the openings assigned to that-team. At time, however, when the ball changes hands, the results of a given play are ready and available to be read through the openings assigned to the other team. It is preferred to have each set of possible results, which are visible for the respective positions of the ball, as being such that they correspond in probability with results which are usuallypresent in the playing of an actual game when the ball is in that respective position. For example, when a team has the ball close to its opponents goal, the results shown preferably include relatively small advances, if any. On the other hand, however, if the ball changes hands on that same line, the possible results shown for the other team which now has the ball include relatively large advances. But, if the last-mentioned team moves down the field to the other 5- yard line, then tl-le'results possible and shown through the openingsassigned to the other team also include few large advances. In other words, the possible results shown for each team for the same relative position on the field are preferably the same.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the game shown in the drawing but may also be used in connection with other games, such as baseball and the like.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features herein described and all statements of the. scope of the invention which, as a matter of. language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a game board having openingstherein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of said board, markings on said board associated with the'position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as,in one position, to display, in registry with said indices, a part of said results through each of said openings and in" another position to display, in registry with said indices, another'part of said results through each of said openings, and means for moving said carrying means, there being indicia associated respectively with-each of said openings and differing from the indicia associated with the others said openings.

2. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of saidboard, markings on said :board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similarindices adjacent each of .said openings; carryingmeans beneath each of saidopenin'gs and having a plurality of play'results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as, in one position, to display; in registry with said indices, a part of said results'throughfleach' of said openings and in-another position to display, in registry with said indices,.another part of said results through each of said openings, means which allow movement of said movable carrying means and which are mechanically related to said game board by being a part. thereof, and means, permanently associated with said combination, for moving said carrying means, there being indicia associated respectively with each of said openings and dif- Iering from the indicia associated with the others of said openings.

3. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of said board, markings on said board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying -means being movable so as, in one position to display, in registry with said indices, a part of said results through each of said openings and in another position to display, in registry with said indices, another part of said results through each of said openings, means, permanently associated with said combination, for moving said carrying means, said carrying means being a sheet of material, and rollers for said sheet to be passed around, said sheet beingpassed around said rollers, said rollers being supported by said board, there being indicia associated respectively with each of said openings and differing from the indicia associated with the others of said openings.

4. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of said board, markings on said board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as, in one position, to display, in registry with said indices, a part of said results through each of said openings and in another position to display, in registry with said indices, another part of said results through each of said openings, means for moving said carrying means, said carrying means being a sheet of material, and rollers for said sheet to be passed around, said sheet being passed around said rollers, there being indicia associated respectively with each of said openings and difiering from the indicia associated with the others of said openings.

5. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of said board, markings on said board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as, in one position, to display, in registry with said indices, -a part of said results through each of said openingsand in another position to display, in registry with said indices, another part of said results through each of said openings, and means for moving said carrying means, said carrying means beingconnected to said movable game element whereby whenever-said element is in a predetermined position the same predetermined play results are shown through said openings.

6. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of 'said board, markings on said board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as, in one position, to display, in registry with said indices, a part of said results through each of said openings and in another position to display, in registry with said indices, another part of said results through each of said openings, and means for moving said carrying means, different ones of said openings being for respectively difierent types of plays, there being indicia associated with each opening indicating the type of play respective to the opening, and the play results shown through the openings being respectively appropriate to the respective types of plays.

'7. In combination, a game board having openings therein, a game element movable with respect to the surface of said board, markingsv on said board associated with the position of said element, a plurality of similar indices adjacent each of said openings, carrying means beneath each of said openings and having a plurality of play results associated therewith, said carrying means being movable so as, in one position, to display, in registry with said indices, a part of said results through each of said openings and in another position to'display, in registry with said indices, another part of said results through each of said openings, means for moving said carrying means, said carrying means being a sheet of material, and rollers for said sheet to be passed around, said sheet being passed around said rollers, said carrying means being connected to said movable game element whereby whenever said element is in a predetermined position the same predetermined play results are shown through said openings, difierent ones of said openings being for respectively difierent types of plays and the play results shown through the openings being respectively appropriate to the respective types of plays.

8. In combination, a game board, a game element movable with respect thereto, a plurality of indices, a pluralityof means each indicating a stepin the game, the last-mentioned plurality being variously positionable with respect to said indices and variously positionable in dependence upon the position of said game element, said board having openings whereby said step-indicating means may be observed, and means for holding the plurality of step indicating means, said game board concealing such of said indicating means as are not associated with said indices.

9. In combination, a game board, a game element movable with respect thereto, means providing a plurality of openings in said board, a plurality of indices associated with each opening, and a movable sheet mechanically associated with said element whereby said sheet moves when said game element moves and having a plurality of indicated, possible steps in the game so positioned that as said sheet is moved said steps are each associated with predetermined ones of said indices, said steps having been originally so fixed upon that as said element is moved in the progress of the game those steps which are associated with said indices are steps which are logical for that period of the game in which said element is in that position in which it is.

10. In combination, a game board, a game element movable with respect thereto, means providing a plurality of openings in said board, a plurality of indices associated with said openings, a movable sheet mechanically associated with said element whereby said sheet moves When said game element moves and having a plurality of indicated, possible steps in the game so positioned that as said sheet is moved said steps are each successively associate'dwith predetermined ones of said indices, and means for moving said element and said sheet together.

11. In argame board, the combination comprising a game element, means operable at a single setting and adapted for indicating possible results of every type of play from a plurality of possible types of play, and means for indicating a particular set of said possible results, said set being dependent upon and continuously variable with the status in the game of the opponent making the play as shown by said element, said operable means being mechanically connected to said game element whereby a change in position of said element causes a change in position of said operable means to a position such that said indicating means indicate a particular set of possible results.

CHARLES F. KUEHNE. 

